Category Archives: Causes

Travel notes from Kenya

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Rachael Dill Boyer in Causes, Stories

World Vision’s Rachael Boyer is in Kenya this week, visiting our water and sanitation projects in a part of Africa long affected by drought and lack of access to clean, safe water for families and communities. Today, she shares her experiences from her first day in the field. Look for more of Rachael’s trip notes on the blog later this week. * * * I flew with a group of World Vision U.S. staff members and donors from Uganda into Kenya via Eldoret. Then, we traveled to Marich Pass, located in Kenya’s Rift Valley, to see a particularly successful clean water project. Previously, poor access to clean water in the area contributed to early marriages and school dropouts...

Malaria in the Congo: The ever-present scourge (PHOTO BLOG)

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Jon Warren in Causes

Malaria in the Congo | World Vision blog

Here in the United States, malaria is often merely thought of as an exotic, foreign disease that was eradicated from our nation in 1951. But when asked to describe malaria in one word, a nurse at Karawa General Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had this to say: “Killer.” The hospital administrator said that 80 percent of the local population carries the disease. My assignment last week was to document the needs of children in the region, because World Vision is considering working in the Karawa area. Malaria dominated almost every situation I covered. Here is a glimpse of what it looks and feels like....

Food for thought: Giving children the best start in the first 1,000 days

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Kathryn Reid in Causes

Giving children the best start in the first 1000 days | World Vision blog

You’ve got to respect the tenacity of a babe in arms to hold up his head, focus his eyes, and grasp a grownup’s finger. An enormous amount of mental heavy lifting is going on behind those eyes, and a lot of high-quality fuel is needed to build the muscle and brain cells at work. Mom’s milk is the perfect fuel, and it’s all that’s needed for the first six months of life. But a new report from World Vision called “The Best Start” makes clear that other simple and inexpensive measures can help ensure that millions more children get a healthy start toward a full life. Why? Because: Undernourishment is a child’s worst enemy. Around 2.5 million children die each...

World population reaches 7 billion: 7 things you should know

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Kathryn Reid in Causes

World's population reaches 7 billion: 7 things you should know | World Vision Blog

For some time now, the UN has estimated that today, October 31, the world’s population is set to reach 7 billion. That’s a big number, but what does this mean for all of us? How much do we really know about how the rest of the world lives? If you’re asking yourself these questions, start here: 7 things you should know… 1. The highest rates of population growth are in less developed countries. Too many people are born in poverty and live out their days with little hope for better lives. 2. Good news! In developing regions, the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day dropped from 46 percent to 27 percent from 1990 to 2005. Even...

French first baby already a winner in the geographic lottery

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Lindsey Talerico-Hedren in Advocacy, Causes

Maybe you’re like me: You have a sudden feeling of joy every time you hear of a baby being born, or a newly announced pregnant mother-to-be. Two months ago, I sat in the hospital, awaiting the birth of my new nephew, ready to hear the sweet melody of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” that’s played each time a baby is born. It’s the same feeling of joy I had earlier this week, hearing the announcement of the birth of the daughter of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. I recall when we heard the wonderful news in May that the Sarkozys were expecting — around the same time G8 leaders gathered in France to discuss issues of economic and...